New business offers a club for woodworkers

GRAHAM – Chris Estes said his Carolina Woodworking Shop is like a gym – only minus the weights and treadmill.

“Guys can come and hang out and have fun,” he said.

Carolina Woodworking is located 205-A Hanover Road, beside Builders Discount Center. It’s in a small business park known as Hanover West.

Estes said for Alamance County residents – as well as anyone in North Carolina – his shop represents a unique approach to woodworking. It’s certainly one-of-a-kind for this area.

The business is a professional-grade, membership-based, do-it-yourself woodshop. The idea behind the establishment, Estes said, is for members to have fun while learning, making friends and completing projects they’ve long dreamed of.

Estes said there are a handful of such workshops nationwide. But he said this marks the first such business in North Carolina.

Estes, 47, is a former house builder and educator. He describes himself as, “A builder for years, and a serious woodworker for more than 30 years.”

Estes graduated from California University of Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh) where he majored in industrial arts education. He moved to North Carolina following graduation, teaching in Davie County before moving to Durham where he continued a career in education.

For the past 17 years, Estes has built custom houses.

He said he’d long considered opening a shop such as Carolina Woodworking and spent the last four months readying everything about the building he’s leased. Estes purchased about 20 professional-grade machines – everything from lathes to heavy duty band saws, from planers to drill presses – for inclusion.

“For a woodworker, there are some really nice tools in here,” he said.

Estes has work tables and all the hand tools – routers and more – needed for just about any project. All members need bring are the materials that’ll go into their projects.

“It’s definitely a turnkey operation,” Estes said.

The shop space measures about 2,500 square feet and there’s another 1,000 square feet of office space where members can congregate for soft drinks or to watch a ballgame. The place is both air conditioned and heated.

There’s also a finishing room where members can paint or varnish their projects. Estes said he’s planning to offer classes where members and non-members can get introductions to the wonderful world of woodworking.

Estes said either he or one of his employees will be on hand when the business is open to offer members assistance with their projects.

“I won’t do it for you, but I’ll guide you,” he said of the helping hand he’s happy to supply.

The business is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Memberships are as cheap as $99 a month with a year’s commitment (all the money won’t be required upfront). An hourly rate to use the shop is $20. The cost of enrolling in a class will be $50 to $75.

Ken Thomas lives in Kannapolis. He and Estes have been friends for 25 years. Thomas said he encouraged Estes when he mentioned opening a shop like Carolina Woodworking.

“I said, ‘Chris, this one has the potential for going over the top,’ ” Thomas said.

He said word-of-mouth advertising will be the key to its success. Thomas said he’s never seen an individual capable of the woodworking projects – furniture and more – he’s seen Estes complete.

Estes said no professionals will be allowed in his shop and members aren’t permitted to resale the items they produce. All members – regardless of their level of experience – must complete a brief safety class and test before taking to the machines.

Estes said he’s looking forward to the endeavor, and offering instruction to individuals interested in discovering the joys of woodworking.

“People will only be here because they want to be here,” he said.

For more information, call Estes at 336-270-3967 or visit his website at: www.carolinawoodworkingshop.com.